Wheel construction



April 16 1940- G. H. HUNT 2,196,990

WHEEL coNsTacTIou Filed March 12, 1956 2 Sheets-Sheet l April 16, 1940- G. H. HUNT WHEEL coNsTnUcTIoN Filed March 12', 1.935

2 Sheets-Sheet 2 dttolmus Patented Apr. .16, 1940 wnlinl.ecousiiwe'rroiv George H. Hunt, Detroit, Mich., assigner, by-

menne assignments,

to Detroit Hydrostatic .BrakeCorporatiom a corporation ot Michigan Application March 12,1936', Serial No. 68,482

land particularly to improvements in wheel construction for motor vehicles.

A principal object of the invention is to provide a novel form of wheel construction which includesas a part thereof a braking surface wherebyI the weight of the wheel and brake assembly may be reduced.

Another object ofthe invention is to provide an improved form of wheel construction including a brake surface provided with means for dressing up the outside of the wheel, the wheel being so formed as to provide air circulation from one side to the other thereof and in heat exchange relationship with the outside of the braking surface.

Another object of the invention is to provide a wheel construction consisting of two integral parts, a rim portion which carries the tire, and a hub portion which supports the wheel and which is arranged to provide a braking surface.

For a better understanding of the invention, reference may be had to the following specitlcation and the accompanying drawings, of which i plurality of circumferentially spaced ears 26 .which are provided with openings in which the there are two sheets, and wherein:

Fig. 1 is an elevational view partially broken away and illustrating a vehicle wheel embodying the invention; V

Fig.l 2 is a sectional view taken in a plane on the line 2-2 of Fig. 1, looking in the direction of the arrows;

Fig. 3 is a sectional view wheel hub;

Fig. 4 is a front view of the hub and brake drum a bolt I8 and a nut 20 by means of which various portions of the wheel are relationship.

The hub III secured in operative Y comprises a cylindrical central por tion 22 which is adapted to support the wheel assembly, and a radially extending annular portion ,24 which slopes outwardly and backwardly in Y the direction of the central portion 22, the per riphery of the portion 24 being provided with a ofa portion of they bolts I8 are secured. There is thus formed between the cylindrical central portion 22 of the hub and the radially extending portion v24 an annular space adapted to accommodate a braking mechanism, and a frusto-conicaily shaped sur-.5 face 55 on the inside ofthe portion 24 is formed and nished to provide a braking surface 28.

The annular section I4 may be formed as a stamping and is provided with a radially extending connecting portion 30', a laterally extending10 flange 32 by means of which the section I4 may be integrallysecured to the rim I2, such as by a series of rivets 34, and a plurality of 'pockets 36' in the wall portions of which the-openings I6 are formed and which pockets provide spaces for accommodating the nuts 20. The annular section I4 is providedat the base of each of the pockets 36 with a corner or edge 38 which is adapted to be 4seated upon a seat 40 provided on the hub portion Ill.

The bolts I8 are each secured within the openf ings in the ears 26 bymeans of a pair of shoulders 42 which engage opposite sides of the respective ear 28 `and firmly secure the respective bolt I8 in position. Upon removal of the nuts 20 from 25 engagement with the bolts i8, the rim I2 and annular section I4 integral therewith may be removed as a unit from the hub portion III. l For enclosing the space within which the braking mechanism is disposed, and for providing an ao additional braking surface, if desired. there may be provided an annular frusto-conically shaped member 49, secured at its periphery to the hub il by means of nuts 46 which engage the threaded ends of the bolts I8 which extend through open-v 35 ings formed in ears 48 on the'member 49.

The radially extending portion 30 of the sec--A tion I4 is curved and terminates at the inside thereof to provide a circular edge 50 which is spaced from the adjacent portion oi the hub I0, 0. I

thus affording an opening between one side of the wheel and the other whereby air may circulate -be tween the hub III and the annular section I4 and pass from one side of the wheel to the other. For dressing up the exterior of the wheel, a hub cap 52, provided with a laterally extending flange 54, maybe disposed externally of the hub portion I0 for concealing the same and Within` the space enclosed by the Asection i4, the ange 54 extending past the edge of the section I4, and a plurality of spring clips 56 being provided on one side of the iilange for engaging with the shoulder 50 -for securing the hub cap 52 in position. If desired, suitable openings 51 may be provided in the flange I4 of the hub cap to per vided with a gasket 60 for frictionally engaging th section I4 and the rim I2, and the other edge of the shieldl 58,l being secured between the edge A5N of the section I 4 and a projecting' edge of the hub cap 52. The shield 58 is provided solely for ornamentation and hence may beH omitted. Incase' the shield 5B is omitted, the rim I2 and section I4 may be removed from the hub I 0 without removing the hub cap 52 from said l rim and said section, as the hub cap 52 is carried bythe rim section I4. The hub cap 52 may be provided with a central opening 54 for admitting air to the space between the exterior of the hub lli and the cap 52. During rotation of the wheel, the wheel will act like a blower and draw air into the opening. in the hub cap and discharge the same on the inside of the wheel between the rim I2 and themember I4. Thus, air will be circulated in heat exchange relationship with the exterior of the braking surface 28 and betweeny the same and the tire carrying rim I2 for carrying away the heat energy due to braking, and will also tend to prevent the transmission of such" aieaceo Y l heat energy to therimfl and the tire carried While the invention has been described with some detail, it is to be understood that the description is for the purpose of illustration only and is not denitive of the limits of the inventive idea. The right is reserved to make such changes in the details of construction and arrangement of parts as will fall within the purview of the attached claim.

Iclaim'; lr 1 A wheel assembly comprising, a hub having integral therewith a braking surface and being formed at the periphery thereof with a series of spaced, radi ally extending portions, a tire carrying rim, a connecting member secured to said rim and detachably connectible with and in spaced relation tofs'aid portions on said hub, connecting means for securing said member to said portions in spaced relation thereto, a hub cap 'arranged for concealing said hub, said connecting member being in contact with said hub radially inwardly of said portions but spaced from said hub along the distances between said portions, and a central opening in said hub cap through which air may pass in heat exchange relationship with said braking surface by passing between said hub and said connecting member and thence between said rim and said radially extending portions of said hub through the spaces therebetween to the' other side of the wheel assembly. l

' GEORGE ,H. `HUNT. 

